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The power of first lines in fiction is immense. After you’ve checked the cover and browsed through the back cover blurb, you open the book and read the first line – the first paragraph – the first page. By the end of the first chapter, you’re probably hooked on the book and will continue reading to the very end.
But what if you don’t like that first line? You really aren’t interested. Maybe you’ll persevere and continue to read the first paragraph, or even the first page to see how the story develops. If, on the other hand, you love the first line, you’re more likely to give the book a go.
I could test this theory against some of the great classics of fiction, but for the purposes of this blog, I’m going to restrict my discussion about first lines to my own teenage fiction.
Of course, there are all sorts of ways of beginning a book: creating an atmosphere from the start by describing the setting – not so often used nowadays; introducing you to a character or two – quite popular in teenage fiction; immersing you immediately into the middle of the action – very popular in teenage fiction. Your first line can be part of a dialogue, an intriguing statement which introduces the theme, or a stated problem which is going to take the rest of the novel to resolve.
I have used all three of these methods, amongst others, in my young adult fiction, and would like to explore with you the significance of first lines from three of my young adult novels.
The first is from my young adult novel, for slightly older readers, entitled ‘Brighter Than The Sun’ which was published by Thy Word publishers. Here it is:
"Nothing can be brighter than that!"
This short piece of dialogue, as my readers will discover later, introduces the main theme of the book, and the conversation that follows between Dan and his girlfriend, Mandy, immediately alerts the reader to a problem in their relationship. Mandy is a Christian. Dan is not. She is determined to convert him. Her dad scoffs at her attempt at ‘evangelistic dating’, warning her that it just doesn’t work. Enter Zack, and the situation becomes complicated. The classic love triangle, with its intriguing twists and turns. I used some of my favourite beauty spots where I live in Cape Town, as the settings for the protagonist, Mandy’s swirling emotions.
I don’t want to give the game away. I would rather you found out what that first line means by reading my novel for yourself. But trust me, "Nothing can be brighter than that!" is a very significant first line.
The second of my first lines, except in this case I’m going to quote three lines, is from my young adult novel, ‘The Seekers’, published in Singapore by Kingdom Publishers. Here they are:
"Balconies were supposed to be romantic places. But tonight, not for Courtney.
She had her Verona-style balcony, but no Romeo."
In this case, I’ve deliberately begun with an idea which is likely to resonate with young adults. Most of them have either heard of or read the well-known, tragic love story of Romeo and Juliet. And they will know about the beautiful love scene that was played out, with the balcony at its centre. In my novel, the reader is informed of the absence of my protagonist’s Romeo.
Does this mean that she is currently not in a relationship?
Judging by the slightly resentful tone here, clearly there is something wrong. Courtney’s boyfriend has actually broken up with her, just one of the problems crowding in on her that she has to deal with in the novel.
This is not a spoiler alert so hopefully you will read the novel to find out how the story develops. I’m just trying to motivate for an intriguing general statement which most teenagers will identify with, and which sets up the initial problem in the story. The seed has been sown.
My third example of a first line is longer than the previous examples. This is from my young adult novel, ‘Surrounded’, published by Thy Word publishers. Here it is:
"Until yesterday, Margaret had been soaring on eagle’s wings, blissfully unaware of the strategic attack
that would scatter her friends and destroy her joy."
In this particular case, I immediately set up the conflict between the protagonist, Margaret, and the antagonist, Jacky.
There is clearly a strong contrast in Margaret’s life between a time when things were going really well for her, and a time when they are now going really badly. And the person who is responsible for her fall from grace, her dwindling popularity and her increasing unhappiness is Jacky, her greatest rival.
Young adults will be able to identify with issues like jealousy, unpopularity, battling for peer approval, even meanness, spitefulness and bullying, themes which develop as the action of this novel, ‘Surrounded’, plays out.
So whether you’re writing a novel or a short story, spend time on crafting your first lines. They’re really important. They can create interest, intrigue the reader and provide mystery and fascination.
Happy writing, especially in creating those dynamite first lines!